Where those associated with Western films from around the world are laid to rest.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

RIP Billy Varga

Though Count Billy Varga, who died Friday night at age 94
from complications of Alzheimer's, was a wrestling star in his own right,
especially in southern California, his most-seen bout came not against another
wrestler, but against Herman Munster.

It was the eighth episode of The Munsters, in November
1964, and the family patriarch, the Frankenstein-like Herman, becomes a pro
wrestler called The Masked Marvel in an effort to make some cash for his son
Eddie's college education. Varga is Strangler Murphy, who benefits from Herman
being so nice and gullible, and unable to take advantage of his opponents.

The sitcom was so relatively new that in a November 3,
1964 letter to promoter Jack Pfefer, Varga described the show and sent a
publicity shot. "The name of the show is the 'Munsters.' I end up
wrestling Frankenstein. Thought you would get a kick out of it," he told
Pfefer, one of wrestling's greatest behind-the-scenes characters.

The intertwining of wrestling and show business was a
long affair for Varga, whose in-ring accomplishments, while notable, perhaps
pale in comparison to his movie and television work. And, while wrestling
helped make the second-generation wrestler a name, it didn't give him a pension
as acting did.

"Billy Varga was a nice guy and good performer. He had
a good thing going with Hollywood, doing television and movies," said Dick
Hutton in a 2001 interview with Wrestling Perspective.

Born in Cleveland to Joe and Rose Varga on January 10,
1919, Billy grew up around the wrestling business thanks to his Hungarian-born
father. The elder Varga was a successful amateur wrestler in Europe, which he
continued upon his arrival in New York. He turned to pro wrestling in 1914 as
Count Joseph Varga, and wrestled until 1936, when he started refereeing.

By the late-'50s, he seemed to have morphed into a
semi-permanent heel, perhaps aided by the "Count" title, which was
claimed to be from the House of Hapsberg. The elder Varga apparently conferred
the title upon his son in 1959.

In a 1959 interview in Wrestling Revue, Billy addressed
the difficulties of being a second-generation wrestler. "[A]s a kid I was
always afraid of being unable to live up to Dad's reputation. It worried me
until Dad took me aside, one day. It was just after he had taught me his
invention, the 'salto' hold -- the one that had helped him get into Ripley's
Believe It or Not column -- and I was pretty discouraged by the time he
finished. 'Billy,' Dad said, 'with this hold and a few others, I won three
world wrestling titles in one night, middleweight, cruiser and heavyweight.
Probably nobody will ever do that again -- not even you. Are you going to let
this wreck your life?' Before I could answer, he went on, 'Because if you are,
tell me now and we'll forget all about wrestling.'"

The Los Angeles-based North American Wrestling
championship seemed locked on Varga's waist for more than 10 years. Promotional
bumpf talked about the "$7,000 diamond studded belt."

It was essentially a vanity belt, not booked out of any
office.

By the early 1970s, his in-ring career had wound down,
though he could hardly have been called a full-timer for much of the previous
two decades, given his frequent movie and TV work.

The list of film and TV Varga worked on is an impressive
body of work, starting with early wrestling-related movies Bodyhold (1949) and
Alias the Champ, later wrestling-related movies such as Mad Bull (1977) and
Grunt! The Wrestling Movie (1985). There were movies where he was not a
wrestler too, including roles as cooks, guards, and announcers, such as in the
award-winning Raging Bull (1980).

Varga's connection between Hollywood and the
grunt-and-groan crew made him a key figure in the Cauliflower Alley Club, an
organization bringing together wrestlers, boxers, stunt men and actors. He was
a regular at the gatherings, often monopolizing the conversations.

His wife, Rosabelle, who died in 1992, was a dancer and
nicknamed "Rosebud." They had three sons, Billy, Courtland and Royce,
all of whom preceded him in death. He is survived by five grandchildren, Billy
Varga the 3rd, Lisa Varga-Hamrick, Eain Varga, Tania Varga and Joseph Varga.

The Count had been in hospice care since the fall of
2005, suffering from Alzheimer's disease. He passed on Friday, January 11,
2013.

A memorial service celebrating Billy’s life will take
place on Saturday, January 19 with a viewing at 11 am and the funeral at 1 pm
at Holy Cross Cemetery 5835 West Slauson Ave. Culver City, CA 90230 For
information (310) 836-5500 or go to www.holycrossmortuary.com to view his
obituary.

About Me

Born in Toledo, Ohio in 1946 I have a BA degree in American History from Cal St. Northridge. I've been researching the American West and western films since the early 1980s and visiting filming sites in Spain and the U.S.A. Elected a member of the Spaghetti Western Hall of Fame 2010.